Judge Mostly Rejects Bids To Trim Mine Cleanup Suit

Law360, New York (May 27, 2011, 9:22 PM EDT) -- A Washington state federal judge on Thursday mostly rejected summary judgment bids by Travelers Casualty, Surety Co. and other insurers in a coverage suit over the cleanup of hazardous substances from a former uranium mine.

In an amended order, U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush rejected several defendant insurance companies' arguments that the district court should defer to a New York state trial court that had issued judgments against one of the plaintiffs, mining giant Newmont USA Ltd., in a related case. The judge said a New...